Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why funding for the 11 July bonfire celebrations was removed from the Ulster-Scots Agency's draft budget for 2004, given the importance of safety and family enjoyment to these celebrations.

Baroness Amos: Under the care and maintenance arrangements of north/south bodies during suspension of the Assembly the budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency was increased by 10.65 per cent to £1,704,000 for 2004. It is up to the agency to prioritise its spending within its budget while recognising that spending must be within the approved budget and associated business plan.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that the Ulster-Scots Agency is adequately and positively represented to the media by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Baroness Amos: As a sponsoring department of the agency, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure supports the Ulster-Scots Agency through funding to enable it to fulfil its remit as defined in the legislation. The agency was set up to promote greater awareness of Ullans and Ulster-Scots cultural issues and to this end has its own media relations strategy.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17 June (WA 79), what impact the decision to remove £600,000 from the Ulster-Scots Agency's requested budget will have on the agency's ability to support community events during the marching season; and what effect this will have on the ability of community leaders to achieve as peaceful a marching season in 2004 as that achieved in 2003.

Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to the Answers given on 26 May 2004 (WA 134) and 17 June 2004 (WA 79).

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 5 July (WA 57) concerning the Eire Government's Official Languages Act 2003, whether they became aware of the existence of the Act on 29 May 2003; why they did not consult the Ulster-Scots Agency; and why they only took action concerning the Act on 19 March.

Baroness Amos: The Government did become aware of the existence of the Official Languages Act on 29 May 2003. The Ulster-Scots Agency was consulted about the Act at a Language Body Facilitation Meeting held on 30 March 2004. It is not the case that action was taken only in March. As indicated in my earlier Answer, to which the noble Lord refers, that was simply the date of the first formal meeting.

Ulster Scots Culture

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7 June (WA 1) concerning a reception at 10 Downing Street on 11 May, whether there were any representatives of Ulster Scots culture present; and, if so, how they were selected.

Baroness Amos: I have nothing further to add to the Answer I gave on 7 June 2004 (WA 1).

Northern Ireland: Ministerial andCivil Service Flights

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the total number of Northern Ireland Office ministerial and Northern Ireland Civil Service flights, during each of the past three years, between Belfast and London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London City airports.

Baroness Amos: The number of ministerial and Northern Ireland Civil Service flights between Belfast and the named airports is set out below:
	
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 London Heathrow 10,324 14,717 14,186 
			 London Gatwick 4,666 4,500 2,890 
			 London City 556 541 140 
		
	
	These figures relate only to single sector flights booked through the contracted travel agency services and do not include any journeys undertaken and which were booked through other channels, as to obtain this information would be at disproportionate cost to departments.

Northern Ireland: Ministerial andCivil Service Flights

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they organise Northern Ireland ministerial and Civil Service air travel between Belfast and either London Heathrow, London Gatwick or London City airports; whether they have fixed price contracts; and which airlines are invited to tender directly to Government to provide this service.

Baroness Amos: Air travel for Ministers and officials between Belfast and the named airports is generally organised through a contracted travel agent. Contracts for these services are awarded following a competitive process.
	The agent identifies the best value air fare to meet the business need including consideration of flights by all airlines flying to the required destinations. The contract with the travel agent is currently on a fee per booking basis and there are no direct contractual agreements tendered to airlines for official air travel.

Northern Ireland: A6

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the estimated cost per kilometre of providing a dual carriageway between the Toome bypass and the City of Londonderry.

Baroness Amos: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the noble Lord in response to this question.
	Letter from the Chief Executive of Roads Service, Malcolm McKibbin, to the Lord Kilclooney
	You recently asked Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost per kilometre of providing a dual carriageway between the Toome bypass and the City of Londonderry. I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	Research carried out for the Regional Strategic Transportation Network Transport Plan, indicates that it would cost approximately £5 million per kilometre (at 2004 prices) to construct a dual carriageway. This figure contains an element for land costs. The cost of dualling the 66 kilometres of the A6 between the western end of Toome bypass and the City of Londonderry would therefore be in the region of £300 million to £400 million (at 2004 prices).

Language Implementation Body

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17 June (WA 82-83) concerning the Language Implementation Body, on what date, with whom and in what form the sponsor departments agreed the annual budget for 2004 for the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the Answers I gave on 22 March 2004 (WA 73), 21 April 2004 (WA 39), 17 June 2004 (WA 80), 22 June (WA 113) and 12 July 2004 (WA 115). I have nothing further to add to these Answers.

Northern Ireland: Sports Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much funding the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure provided each year since 1999 to:
	(a) association football;
	(b) rugby union;
	(c) cricket; and
	(d) Gaelic Athletic Association games;
	whether there is a cross community requirement in any such funding; what that requirement is; and how it was monitored.

Baroness Amos: The Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI) is responsible for the development of sport in NI including the distribution of public funding to individual sports.
	The following tables provide details of exchequer funding from SCNI for the financial year 1998–99 to 2003–04 for the four sports of soccer, Gaelic games (excluding camogie), rugby and cricket.
	Exchequer Funding
	
		
			  1998–99£ 1999–2000£ 2000–01£ 2001–02£ 2002–03£ 2003–04£ Total£ 
			 Soccer 50,000 50,000 50,000 59,000 52,500 90,348 351,848 
			 1 100,000 1 232,000 1 911,000 1,243,000 
			 Gaelic Games (Excluding camogie) 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 45,000 129,497 294,497 
			 Rugby 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 24,000 106,090 194,090 
			 Cricket 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 26,330 71,462 177,792 
			 Totals 116,000 116,000 116,000 225,000 379,830 1,308,397 2,261,227 
		
	
	1 These figures indicate the funds allocated to soccer from the Football Development Centre Programme for 2001–02 and 2002–03.
	Safe Sports Grounds
	The money provided by the Safe Sports Ground Programme was made available from financial year 2000–01 for the three sports of soccer, Gaelic games and rugby. The following table shows the funding that was allocated for these sports for the three-year period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2003.
	
		
			  1998–99£ 1999–2000£ 2000–01£ 2001–02£ 2002–03£ 2003–04£ Total£ 
			 Soccer   1,206,809 784,003 415,188  2,406,000 
			 Gaelic Games   622,085 350,833 507,082  1,480,000 
			 Rugby   136,843 140,612 68,536  345,991 
			 Total   1,965,737 1,275,448 990,806  4,231,991 
		
	
	As the organisations listed are voluntary organisations, they do not have any statutory duty under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. However, the Sports Council does require all organisations which it funds to have an equity policy in place in their constitution/articles of association. Each of the organisations listed has provided the Sports Council with a copy of their Equity Policy.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29 June (WA 12) concerning Waterways Ireland, what is the project at Ringsend Basin Moorings, Dublin; how much it will cost; how the contracts were awarded; and whether any company from Northern Ireland was allowed to bid.

Baroness Amos: The project involves the provision of floating moorings in the inner basin of the Grand Canal Dock in Dublin City to provide approximately 55 new berths. The berths form a "necklace" around the Waterways Ireland visitor centre and access to the moorings is from the existing walkway serving the visitor centre.
	The cost is approximately €600,000.00.
	Tenders were sought by public advertisement and placed in the Official Journal of the European Communities in July 2003. Tenders were received from seven companies. One company from Northern Ireland submitted a tender. The contract was awarded per the criteria set out in the documentation which was provided to all tenderers.

Ards and Down Area Plan

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the draft Ards and Down Area Plan was published; when a decision was made to hold a public inquiry; when the public inquiry will commence; and when it is expected to report; and
	What action they are taking to control developments which would be in conflict with the draft Ards and Down Area Plan.

Baroness Amos: The draft Ards and Down Area Plan was published on 10 December 2002. The decision to hold a public inquiry was made in September 2003. The inquiry is programmed to commence on 10 January 2005. The timing of the report will depend on the time required by the Planning Appeals Commission to hold the inquiry and report its findings to the Department of the Environment's planning service.
	In considering planning applications, the planning service will continue to give due regard to the draft area plan as a material consideration. Urgent consideration is also being given to whether any further action is needed in this respect at a policy level.

Northern Ireland Civil Service:Sick Absence

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each department of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, what was the average number of days lost through illness per civil servant in each year from 2000.

Baroness Amos: Sick absence statistics for the Northern Ireland departments are analysed by financial year as opposed to calendar year. The information sought is readily available for the 11 departments of the NI administration and their agencies for the period 1999–2000 to 2002–03. Published statistics for Northern Ireland departments for the financial years 2000–01 to 2002–03 are accessible on the department's website at www.dfpni.gov.uk/publications.
	The table below details the average number of days lost during the period 2000–01 to 2002–03 for the 11 departments of the NI administration and their agencies.
	
		
			 Department/Agency Average Days Lost per Staff Year 
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
			 DARD 12.2 11.8 13.4 
			 DCAL 14.7 14.6 13.8 
			 DE 15.7 13.2 12.5 
			 DEL 17.9 19.0 18.7 
			 DETI 12.4 13.0 12.7 
			 DFP 12.8 13.4 13.6 
			 DHSSPS 12.9 14.6 13.2 
			 DOE 14.6 14.1 14.5 
			 DRD 12.2 11.4 10.7 
			 DSD 18.6 18.4 19.1 
			 OFMDFM 9.7 11.6 12.2 
			 AVERAGE 14.0 14.1 14.0 
		
	
	Staff from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Complaints and the Planning Appeals Commission are included in the DFP figures.
	Staff from HSENI and OFREG are incuded in the DETI figures.
	The level of sick absence has been a matter of concern over the recent years and a range of corporate and departmental initiatives has been and is being taken forward to reduce the current levels of sick absence. NI departments have set individual targets for reduction in sick absence.

Northern Ireland: School Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 July (WA 116) concerning school funding in Northern Ireland, how many primary and secondary schools seeking funding have been turned down since 1990 because they did not meet the relevant intake criteria; how many were granted funding without meeting the relevant intake criteria; and, in each case, which schools were involved.

Baroness Amos: The department is aware of nine instances of development proposals for new schools turned down because the schools failed to meet the viability criteria—two secondary schools and seven primary schools. Records relating to the establishment of integrated schools prior to 1995 are no longer available.
	The schools concerned are listed on the attached Appendix A.
	In all but the two most recent cases, the viability criteria was achieved eventually and a subsequent development proposal was successful.
	There were only two schools which received funding without strictly meeting the full criteria. An explanation for these is in Appendix B.
	Appendix A
	Primary Schools
	
		
			 Year turned down School Subsequent proposal 
			 2004 Gaelscoil an Lonnain, Belfast  
			  
			 2004 +Lir Integrated PS, Ballycastle  
			 1998 Gaelscoil Ui Neill, Coalisland Approved from Dec 2000 
			  
			 1996 
			 and 1997 +Oakwood Integrated PS Approved from Dec 1998 
			  
			 1995 Bunscoil an Iuir, Newry Approved from Oct 1996 
			  
			 1995 Bunscoil an tSleibhe Dhuibh Approved from August 1996 
			  
			 1995 Bunscoil Ben Mhadagain Approved from   Apr 1997 
			  
		
	
	+ reasons for non-approval in these two cases related to the adverse effect on the enrolments at another nearby school and uncertainty about long-term demand and religious balance.
	Secondary Schools
	
		
			 Year turned down School Subsequent proposal 
			 1997 *Strangford Int College Approved from Dec 1998 
			 1997 and 1998 *East Antrim (Ulidia) Int College Approved from Sept 2000 
		
	
	*Although viability was a factor in these schools not being approved, they also were unable initially to demonstrate the "potential to sustain a minimum religious balance of 30:70 within a long-term enrolment of 500".
	Appendix B
	Schools which received funding without fully meeting the viability criteria
	(i) In 1996, Meanscoil Feirste, the only Irish-medium post-primary school in Northern Ireland, was awarded grant-aided status, although it did not achieve the required intake. There was however firm evidence from the school's previous intakes and the growth in the Irish-medium primary school sector that the school would shortly achieve the level of enrolments and that these would be sustainable.
	(ii) In 2002, Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche, an existing independent Irish-medium primary school in Castlewellan, was approved for funding with a year-one intake of 10 instead of 12. The decision was taken on the basis that the school had just fallen short of the minimum but had 12 pre-school children in the attached pre-school unit. The school at the time also had a total of 32 children of compulsory school age already attending.

North-South Ministerial Council

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7 July (WA 80), whether the North-South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat staff are permitted to comment on grants issued by the Ulster-Scots Agency.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 7 July (WA 80). The North-South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat has no involvement in decisions about grants issued by the Ulster-Scots Agency, and has made no comments on such disbursements.

North-South Ministerial Council

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What meetings the joint secretaries of the North-South Ministerial Council or their representatives have had together with non-Civil Service or implementation body groups since 1 January 2003; with which groups; on what date; and for what purpose.

Baroness Amos: The duties of the staff of the North-South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat include holding meetings with persons who are neither civil servants nor members of the North-South Implementation Bodies. Over a period of more than 18 months, since January 2003, such meetings have been numerous, of varying degrees of significance, and many have been unrecorded. It is not possible to list them all with accuracy.

North-South Ministerial Council

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the exact role of the joint secretaries to the North-South Ministerial Council.

Baroness Amos: The Strand 2 provisions of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement describe the role and functions of the North-South Ministerial Council, and paragraph 16 provides for it "to be supported by a standing Joint Secretariat, staffed by members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Irish Civil Service". It is the role of the joint secretaries to discharge that support function in ways appropriate to prevailing circumstances.

North-South Ministerial Council

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 July (WA 118–119) concerning the North-South Ministerial Council Secretariat in Armagh, what are the "other wider functions" of the staff; when they have undertaken those functions; and under what instructions.

Baroness Amos: It is common for members of both the Northern Ireland and Irish Civil Services particularly at senior levels, to carry out functions of a representational or corporate nature which go wider than their day-to-day duties, and which may not be specified in the broad description of their particular posts. It would not be possible to list every occasion when officials of the secretariat have undertaken such wider functions, or to specify what instructions, if any, they would have acted under on such occasions.

Support Vehicle Project

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many recovery vehicle variants were required in the original invitation to tender (ITT) for the Ministry of Defence's support vehicle project; and how many are in the current ITT.

Lord Bach: The support vehicle invitation to tender stated a requirement for medium and heavy variants of Recovery vehicles and this has remained extant. Bidders have since been asked to indicate the effect to their stated unit prices of a reduction of up to 20 per cent in the Recovery Vehicle fleet, to allow a full value-for-money assessment to be undertaken.

Support Vehicle Project

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When a procurement announcement will be made on the support vehicle programme.

Lord Bach: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to the Earl Attlee on 20 July, (Official Report, col. WA 26).

Army Recruitment

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Ministry of Defence's definition of "recruitment" relates to the enlistment and acceptance of a recruit at a recruitment office, or to the commencement of basic training; and
	Whether, upon enlisting and being accepted at a recruitment office, a new recruit can start his or her basic training forthwith.

Lord Bach: Recruitment to the Army occurs when the applicant has passed through the recruiting selection centre process, has been accepted and is allocated a place on a training course. Enlistment occurs when the recruit begins their phase 1 basic training. The Army has an enlistment target figure of around 11,300 for the current financial year and since 1 April more than 1,500 have enlisted.
	There is currently a pause on some recruits starting their phase 1 training. Some of those who have successively passed through the recruit selection procedure may be given a date to commence phase 1 training later in the year. This is a short-term measure that has been introduced to help maintain balance in Army manpower numbers, and is likely to continue until October. It does not equate to banning recruitment. There is no ban, freeze or cap on Army recruitment and no one expressing a wish to join the Army is turned away.

Gulf War Veterans

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the cost to date of contesting diagnoses and entitlement claims of Gulf War veterans by the Ministry of Defence; and in how many cases the ministry was successful.

Lord Bach: As at 30 April 2004 external legal costs of £17,538 had been incurred in dealing with the Gulf War veterans' intention to claim common law compensation against the Ministry of Defence. Internal costs would be included within the Ministry's overall administration figures. The current position is that the department has not received any writs or detailed claims stating specific allegations of negligence sufficient to start considering these claims.

Gulf War Veterans

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the cost to date of contesting diagnoses and entitlement claims of Gulf War veterans by the War Pensions Agency; and in how many cases the agency was successful; and
	What has been the cost to date to the Ministry of Defence of making representations to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal when Gulf War veterans' claims have been contested; and in how many cases the ministry was successful; and
	What is the estimated cost to the taxpayer of the 50 Gulf War veterans' cases waiting consideration by the War Pensions Agency and the Pensions Appeal Tribunal.

Lord Bach: The internal costs of administering war pensions claims, including the department's processes for preparing cases for hearing at the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, are not separately identified by individual case or category of claim. Gulf War cases are administered as part of the normal arrangements for administering war pensions claims and resources are not provided specifically for these cases, either for assessment of claims or arising out of appeals to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. Individual cases only incur separately identifiable additional costs if they progress to the High Court. The final external legal costs for the one Gulf War illness war pensions case heard by the High Court are expected to be approximately £150,000; the department's challenge to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal decision on this case was not successful.
	As at the end of May 2004, there had been some 770 appeals to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal from veterans who had served in the Gulf against the Department's decision on their claims. The department's decision has been upheld in some 55 per cent of cases.

Gulf War Veterans

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an estimate of the cost of additional support for sick Gulf War veterans and their families since the first reports of ill health were received; and, if so, whether the amount exceeds that incurred by the Ministry of Defence and the War Pensions Agency in defending claims of ill health at tribunals and in the courts.

Lord Bach: The Government established the Gulf Veterans Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP) in 1993 to address the health concerns of individual veterans: as at 16 July 2004, 3,235 Gulf veterans had attended the GVMAP. The GVMAP does not provide treatment; it assesses patients' health and recommends treatment if appropriate. The cost of the GVMAP since it began in 1993 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Defence Medical Services are responsible for the health of those veterans of the Gulf conflict who are still serving, while the NHS is responsible for treating Gulf veterans who have left the Armed Forces. No central estimate has been made of the costs of support for sick Gulf veterans and their families.
	Gulf veterans who suffer illness or injury as a result of their service are eligible to claim a war pension and an attributable pension under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS). Widows' pensions can similarly be claimed where the spouse's death was caused or hastened by service. War pensions are paid on the basis of an assessed level of disablement which is causally linked to service.
	The rate of pension paid therefore depends on the circumstances of the individual case. The maximum war pension (including allowances) for a severely disabled person is currently over £460 per week. Substantial AFPS pensions are paid on top of this at a level dependent on rank and level of disablement. Other support is also available, for example to assist transition back into civilian life on leaving the Armed Forces. Information is not kept on the costs of internal administration of individual claims.

Hazardous Waste Disposal:Government Operations

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How and where they dispose of hazardous waste resulting from their own operations, in particular waste originating from Ministry of Defence operations.

Lord Bach: Hazardous or "special waste" emanating from the Ministry of Defence is only disposed of at licensed waste disposal facilities that hold an appropriate waste management licence or IPPC permit using disposal contractors registered with the various UK environment agencies.
	Under the current procedure for the disposal of special waste, the environment agencies located closest to the disposal site receive written confirmation of the safe deposit of this waste; the producer is not included in this loop. This will hopefully change when the new Hazardous Waste Regulations 2004 are enacted into UK legislation.

Hazardous Waste Disposal:Government Operations

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether disposal of hazardous waste resulting from their own operations, particularly Ministry of Defence operations, will change from 16 July.

Lord Bach: From 16 July onwards, the department will continue to dispose of its hazardous waste in accordance with the requirements outlined in the relevant United Kingdom environmental legislation and with Directive 99/31/EC on the landfill of waste.

Gulf War 1990–91:Destruction of Chemical Weapons

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their current estimate of the number of British troops who could have been exposed to fall-out from the destruction by United States forces of the stockpile of Iraqi chemical weapons at Khamisiyah in Southern Iraq in March 1991; and how this compares with previous estimates given to Parliament.

Lord Bach: As I stated in my Answer of 25 March 2004 (Official Report, col. WA 112) the US modelling work estimated that the number of British troops who could have been exposed to the demolitions of chemical weapons at Khamisiyah is estimated at 9,000.
	The US Government Accounting Office (GAO) report published in June suggested that this modelling was flawed and that all troops in theatre could have been exposed to fall-out from the destruction of these weapons.
	I also refer my noble friend to the answer I gave him on 6 July (Official Report, col. WA 74).

HMS "Endurance"

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What tasks HMS "Endurance" has undertaken on recent deployments; what is her current status; when her next deployment will begin; and what this will involve.

Lord Bach: HMS "Endurance" deploys on an annual basis, usually between October to May the following year, to the South Atlantic and Antarctic regions during the austral summer. She is a unique ship of the Royal Navy in that she has three main roles. Her primary role is to provide a presence in the British Antarctic Territory and United Kingdom Overseas Territories in the region reinforcing British interests and supporting Foreign Office objectives. "Endurance" also undertakes a programme of hydrographic and oceanographic survey work, in support of safety of navigation, during her deployment. The UK Antarctic survey programme is the most extensive in the area in waters that are still largely uncharted. The information gathered is processed by the UK Hydrographic Office and drawn into charts that are used by mariners around the world. Her other role is to support the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in carrying out its scientific research programmes. In addition, "Endurance" also contributes to the Defence Diplomacy Mission by undertaking a series of port visits in the region.
	HMS "Endurance" returned from her 2003–04 deployment on 7 May 2004. She is currently in a period of refit which will result in a shortened deployment programme for the 2004–05 austral summer season. She is scheduled to deploy early in the new year during which she will resume work in line with her three main roles.

MoD and Environmental Tectonics Corporation

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 24 June (WA 151) what was the sum paid in compensation by the Ministry of Defence to Environmental Tectonics Corporation.

Lord Bach: Under the terms of the mediated settlement the Ministry of Defence made a contribution of £6.4 million to Environmental Tectonics Corporation.

MoD and Environmental Tectonics Corporation

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any usable part of the Royal Air Force centrifuge was delivered by Environmental Tectonics Corporation before the termination of its contract; and, if so, what is its value to the Royal Air Force.

Lord Bach: Under the Ministry of Defence's former contract with the Environmental Tectonics Corporation (ETC) a new building was constructed at RAF Henlow to house the new centrifuge. Options for its future use are under consideration. This will determine the value of this asset to the MoD.

MoD and Environmental Tectonics Corporation

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much, by way of stage payments in respect of work in progress, was paid by the Ministry of Defence in respect of the Royal Air Force centrifuge to Environmental Tectonics Corporation.

Lord Bach: Under the Ministry of Defence's former contract with the Environmental Tectonics Corporation, a sum of £5.964 million was paid in stage payments in respect of work in progress.

Black Watch Regiment

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the established strength of the Black Watch Regiment; to what extent it is under strength; and what steps they are taking to remedy any shortfall.

Lord Bach: As at 1 January 2004, the establishment and trained strength of the Black Watch was, respectively, 675 and 635. Recruitment to the regiment remains steady and further initiatives to encourage new recruits are being planned.

Queen's Guards at Buckingham Palace

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether troops from other states, including states within the Commonwealth, have mounted guard at Buckingham Palace; if so, when; and which states were involved.

Lord Bach: The privilege of guarding the sovereign is extended to Commonwealth countries only. The following nations have provided the Queen's Guards in the past five years:
	Australia July 2001 Canada September 2000 Jamaica April 1999.

Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they anticipate that the first tranche of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft will enter into full operational service with the Royal Air Force; to what extent this process will be staged; and how many such aircraft will come into operation at each stage.

Lord Bach: Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 aircraft are expected to enter into full operational service with the Royal Air Force in the second half of the decade. The first stage towards this—initial pilot training and operational evaluation—is under way and will involve increasing numbers of aircraft as they are delivered. The second stage will be reached when aircraft are declared operationally employable, by which time most of the first tranche aircraft are expected to be available for operations.

UK Government Websites: Guidelines

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What mechanisms are in place to monitor and ensure proper compliance with the guidelines for UK government websites, with particular reference to the web accessibility needs of disabled people.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: There is no centralised system of monitoring UK government websites for compliance with the guidelines for UK government websites and the accessibility standards they achieve. Responsibility rests with individual government departments, agencies and local authorities.

UK Government Websites: Guidelines

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have plans to ensure that United Kingdom government websites comply with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines; and, if so, when they envisage that such compliance could be achieved.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: It is a legal requirement that websites can be used by disabled people. To enable this to be achieved, the Government have adopted the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are particularly technical in their approach and we provide extensive guidance and encouragement to public sector web managers through the publication of the guidelines for UK government websites.
	The responsibility for achieving and sustaining compliance rests with individual departments, agencies and local authorities.

Civil Servants: Numbers

Baroness Howe of Idlicote: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many civil servants there were in 1997; and how many are currently employed.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: At 1 April 1997 there were 475,340 permanent civil servants (full time equivalent). The latest figures published in April 2004 show that at 1 October 2003 there were 516,990 permanent civil servants (full time equivalent).

Vehicle Operator and Services Agency: PG9

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a vehicle subject to a PG9 immediate prohibition issued by the Vehicle Operator Services Agency is "disabled" for the purposes of legislation relating to recovery vehicles.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Yes.
	The prohibition means that the vehicle in question cannot be driven, subject to any special provisions made at the time the prohibition was issued.

Crossrail: Funding

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether increases in land values, such as the estimated £2.8 billion rise at Canada Wharf and Southwark tube stations resulting from the construction of the Jubilee Line, should be captured to help fund new lines such as the East London Line and Crossrail.

Lord Davies of Oldham: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport's Statement on 20 July set out the steps we are taking on identifying a funding solution for Crossrail which would be equitable for all. There may well be other projects where it would be feasible to capture potential benefits from development for the purposes of delivering the scheme.

Office of Rail Regulation and the Strategic Rail Authority: Business Appointment Rules

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What restrictions are placed on senior staff at the Office of Rail Regulation and the Strategic Rail Authority in respect of future employment or legal representation in the rail industry.

Lord Davies of Oldham: All staff at the Office of Rail Regulation are subject to the Civil Service Management Code which among other things states that:
	"The Business Appointment Rules provide for the scrutiny of appointments which former Crown servants propose to take up in the first two years after they leave the service. To provide an independent element in the process of scrutiny, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is appointed by the Prime Minister, comprising people with experience of the relationships between the Civil Service and the private sector. The Committee gives advice on applications at the most senior levels".
	The Strategic Rail Authority's senior executive contract requires staff to abide by its business appointment rules. These include an approval process which applies to staff proposing to take up an appointment covered by the rules within six months of leaving the SRA.

A23: Fatal Accident Sites

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 30 June (WA 22), concerning the installation of safety cameras at fatal accident sites, why cameras have not been installed at the site of the A23 fatal accident in May where eight people were killed.

Lord Davies of Oldham: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 19 June concerning the site of the A23 fatal accident site. The Department for Transport Handbook of rules and guidance for the operation of the national road safety camera programme 31 October 2003 covers the criteria for safety camera partnerships' installation of cameras. A copy of the handbook is in the Library of the House.

Transport Direct: Website

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Transport Direct website will go on line; what real-time travel information will be available; and what is the current estimated cost of developing the system.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Transport Direct website went online on 12 July 2004, allowing the public access to the site as a further testing period before an official launch later in the year.
	Transport Direct provides real-time information for all 2,500 stations in Great Britain. Users can access live departure boards, which are provided by National Rail inquiries, through the Transport Direct website. Transport Direct also includes a live travel news service that can inform users of any incidents that may occur including cancellations and service disruption. The journey planner will take into account planned engineering works and provide information on rail replacement services.
	Transport Direct will provide a live travel information service notifying users of any incidents that may affect their journey, such as road works and accidents. The site also uses historical congestion information to adjust car journey routes.
	The total spend up to March 2004 was £16.7 million. The budget for 2004–05 financial year is £17 million.

Pension Schemes: New Entrants

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which companies included in the FTSE 100 index now operate pension schemes open to new entrants with unlimited indexation, in line with the retail price index, for pensioners in payment; and
	Which companies included in the FTSE 100 index now operate defined benefit pension schemes open to new entrants with no employee contributions payable.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The information is not available in the format requested.

Government Departments Relocation: Property Commitments

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In accordance with principles for relocation set out at paragraph 10.3 of the Lyons report, which government departments or sponsored bodies have received approval from HM Treasury since 9 September 2003 to enter into or renew a significant property commitment in London, showing in each case the amount of space and its purpose.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The cases where the Treasury has agreed to proposals from departments and public bodies to enter into or renew property commitments from 10 September 2003 are listed below. In each of these cases, the case for relocation out of London and the south-east was fully explored. Treasury approval for these projects is consistent with the key principles set out in the Lyons report. The Government are tightening the requirement for departments to consult HM Treasury before taking on any significant new property in London and the south-east.
	The implementation of departmental efficiency and relocation programmes will clearly have implications for the management of the public sector estate and government will continue to co-ordinate the use and size of their office estate in London and across the United Kingdom to ensure that it is properly configured.
	The table below lists new leases approved since 10 September 2003:
	
		
			 Organisation Location Office Space (sq m) Purpose for New Lease 
			 Treasury Solicitor's 
			 Department 1 Kemble Street 9,300 To conduct the Department's full range of business activities currently undertaken at Queen Anne's Chambers in Westminster, London (and making use of space owned by a public corporation)  
			 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister—Audit Commission Millbank Tower, Westminster 5,100 To consolidate four London offices into a single office  
			 Department for Education and Skills—Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service Wyndham House, South Quay, Docklands 1,400 To deliver the full range of the Service's responsibilities currently undertaken at Newspaper House in the City of London  
			 Department of Health—Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Bloomsbury Street 1,200 To deliver the Authority's responsibilities currently undertaken at two sites in Paxton House and the Fruit and Wool Exchange (and making use of existing civil estate)  
			 Department of Health—University College London Hospitals NHS Trust 250 Euston Road 13,500 To consolidate office space as part of a wider project to redevelop the hospital and provide local services  
			 Department of Health—Commission for Social Care and Inspection 33 Greycoat Street, Westminster 1,600 To serve as headquarters for the newly constituted Commission  
			 Department of Health—Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency Market Towers, Vauxhall 2,700 To deliver the new Agency's responsibilities following the merger of the Medical Devices Agency and the Medicines Control Agency 
		
	
	:TITLE3:The table below lists lease extensions approved since 10 September 2003:
	
		
			 Organisation Location Office Space (sq m) Purpose for Lease Extension 
			 Home Office—National Criminal Intelligence Service Spring Gardens 3,000 To create a policing unit for London and to enhance services to the South East  
			 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nobel House, Westminster 13,500 Extending the lease forms part of the Department's London headquarters estates strategy to reduce its size by 50 per cent and to concentrate its London presence in four buildings close together 
			 Department of Trade and Industry Elizabeth House, York Road 2,800 To ensure that the Department has sufficient capacity in the short term to make possible the necessary consolidation of its accommodation from the current six buildings in London to two buildings

Sports National Governing Bodies:Income from Sale of Media Rights

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their best estimate of the income to the national governing bodies of sport and recreation from the sale of media rights last year.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: No information is currently available on the income to sports' national governing bodies from the sale of media rights.

Local Authorities: Sports Income

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their best estimate of the total amount of fee income to local authorities generated by sports facilities and services last year.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Local authorities in England reported that their income for the financial year 2002–03 from sales, fees and charges was £298 million for sports facilities and £69 million for sports development services and community recreation. No figures are currently available for the last financial year.

Step into Sport Programme

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 14 July (WA 152), how much of the £7 million two-year contract for the Step into Sport Programme was allocated to each of the Youth Sport Trust, Sport England and the British Sports Trust; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 8 January (WA 57), which department is responsible for managing the £12 million Step into Sport Programme; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 8 January (WA 57), how much of the £12 million funding for the Step into Sport Programme has been awarded to each of the Youth Sport Trust, Sport England and the British Sports Trust during the years of the programme's operation.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Step into Sport is managed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Programme allocations since 2002–03 are laid out in the table following:
	
		
			 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
			 £3 million 
			 (of which 
			 £2 million from the Home Office) £4 million 
			 (of which 
			 £2 million from the Home Office) 
			  £4 million £4 million 
		
	
	Spend by the delivery agents (Youth Sport Trust, British Sports Trust and Sport England) relating to 2002–03 and 2003–4 and allocations for 2004–05 are laid out in the table following:
	
		
			  2002–03 Outturn 2003–04 Outturn 2004–05 (allocation) 
			 Youth Sport Trust £652,009 £1,644,614 £1,679,500 
			 British Sports Trust £841,883 £763,230 £446,000 
			 Sport England £776,882 £1,259,755 £1,681,500 
		
	
	Confirmed allocations for 2005–06 remain to be made following the spending review.

Youth Sport Trust: Funding

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 14 July (WA 152), whether any additional funding has been allocated to the Youth Sport Trust from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its associated agencies; and, if so, how much has been allocated.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not directly fund the Youth Sport Trust. Sport England has allocated £2,149,500 to the Youth Sport Trust in 2004–05 to deliver aspects of the Step into Sport and Club Links workstrands of the PE, School Sport and Club Links project.

UK Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the £4.7 million increase for UK Sport's drug free sport directorate, announced in November 2002, is expected to be delivered to the drug free sport directorate in 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: In November 2002, as part of the spending review settlement, a grant-in-aid uplift of £1.5 million in 2004–05 and £3.2 million in 2005–06 was awarded to UK Sport principally for developing its anti-doping programme. This increased UK Sport's total grant-in-aid to £27.31 million for 2004–05 and £29.30 million for 2005–06.
	It is a matter for UK Sport, as the UK's national anti-doping agency, to decide on the budget that is allocated from its grant-in-aid to the drug-free sport directorate. In 2004–05 UK Sport has forecasted that £3.68 million of its grant-in-aid will be spent on the drug free sport directorate, and £4.99 million is budgeted for expenditure in 2005–06.
	UK Sport intends to direct additional funding to expand the drug-testing programme, introduce an enhanced education curriculum and make any necessary arrangements so that the UK is fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code.

UK Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funding UK Sport is allocating to the "Start Clean" campaign launched on 12 July; and which partner organisations are involved in the production and delivery of the campaign.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: UK Sport has been a beneficiary of European Commission funding of £27,000 for the "Start Clean" programme. In addition, UK Sport and Hull University also jointly fund the programme at £13,500 each. The campaign aims to build awareness and appreciation of the importance of drug-free sport to 13 to 17 year-olds across the UK.

Contracts for Difference

Lord Newby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much additional stamp duty would have been raised in 2003–04 if Contracts for Difference had been liable to the duty at the same rate as shares.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: An estimated £800 million stamp duty would have been due in 2003–04 if Contracts for Difference had been within the scope of stamp duty and liable at the same rate as shares. This estimate does not include any allowance for behavioural changes, which could significantly reduce the yield.

Boundary Committee Local Government Reviews

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have received from professional bodies about the size of local authority necessary to sustain efficient and effective local government as a result of the structural review carried out by the Boundary Commission; and to what extent the size depends on effective joint working between local authorities.

Lord Rooker: Some respondents to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's consultation on the guidance issued to the Boundary Committee before the local government reviews began gave their views on the optimal size of local authorities. We had regard to these, and all other representations, in finalising the guidance that was published on 6 June 2003. The guidance suggests that the Boundary Committee will need to consider the impact on the organisational and managerial capacity of authorities of any increase in joint arrangements that exist in the area concerned. The guidance also states that in the Government's view, the committee should consider the evidence that smaller authorities rely more heavily on joint arrangements to deliver quality public services and that these serve to confuse lines of accountability.
	In its final reports the Boundary Committee state that "they have tended towards a preference that any unitary authorities . . . should be capable of providing or procuring, without recourse to formal joint arrangements, the full range of local government services" and that "they have sought to recommend unitary authorities of such a capacity to ensure that they have the maximum flexibility in deciding how local government services will be provided, whether directly by the council concerned or through some other arrangement".

Parental Leave

Lord Taylor of Warwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any plans to increase paid parental leave.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government introduced a substantial package of laws for working parents in April 2003, including increasing paid maternity leave and a new right to paid paternity and adoption leave.
	The DTI is taking forward a programme of work to explore what additional support could be provided to people balancing work and caring responsibilities, in ways that meet both individual and business needs. The work includes a series of roundtables in England, Scotland and Wales and a Citizens' Jury has also taken place.
	The Government are committed to not making any changes to laws for working parents before 2006 after the impact of the current laws has been reviewed.

London Development Agency: Funding

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the relative contributions of each government department to the single funding programme for the London Development Agency.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The 2002 Spending Review White Paper announced that various departments would be contributing to the single pot as set out below. During the course of the financial year 2004–05 these figures will change, for example, to take account of end year flexibility.
	
		
			 Department Single PotContributions(£millions) Single PotContributions(%) 
			 Department of Trade and Industry (Including UK Trade and Investment) 236 12.6 
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 2 0.1 
			 Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 46 2.5 
			 Department for Education and Skills 42 2.2 
			 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 1,552 82.6 
			 Total 1,878 100 
		
	
	Single pot money is allocated between regions according to a funding formula. Under the formula the London Development Agency does not receive funding for deprived rural areas, which is provided to the single budget by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Credit and Hire Agreements

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will explain the information required under paragraph 2(4)(c), (d) and (e) in relation to Schedule 1 and under paragraph 5(2)(c) and (d) in relation to Schedule 3 to the Consumer Credit (Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1482).

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The information is that which will be required in regulated credit and hire agreements from 31 May 2005. This key financial and other information is that which consumers need to understand the full implications of any agreement they consider entering into and comprises: amount and term of credit; total amount payable; timing and amount of payments; APR and whether variable; total charge for credit; allocation of payments; interest rate and whether variable and how it is applied; charges and fees; security; and cancellable status.
	The DTI will issue guidance on the new regulations in the next few weeks.

Recreational Craft Regulations: Engine Life

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which body set the standards for normal engine life in the Recreational Craft Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1464).

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Recreational Craft Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1464) come into force on 1 January 2005 and replace existing regulations from 1996. The 2004 regulations implement in the United Kingdom, Directive 2003/44/EC that amended the Recreational Craft Directive 94/25/EC and consolidate the text of the 1996 regulations with the new requirements laid down in the amending directive.
	Schedule 1 B. 3., to the 2004 regulations, sets out durability requirements for engines, that fall within the scope of the regulations and explains what is considered to be meant by the term "normal life of the engine". The figures quoted in the schedule have been taken directly from directive 2003/44/EC and are based on figures from the United States. These were provided to the European Commission by the International Marine Engine Committee (IMEC), which were assisted in the compilation by TUV, a German test laboratory. IMEC represent marine engine and personal watercraft manufacturers worldwide and include major companies such as Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Bombardier and Selva.

European Space Agency: Aurora Programme

Lord Tanlaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the funding available to pay the United Kingdom's subscription to the European Space Agency Preliminary European Space Exploration Programme Aurora will be made known.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The European Space Agency has requested that member states advise it of their additional subscriptions to the preliminary phase of the Aurora programme by September 2004. The UK has already contributed 1.4 million euros to a first preparatory phase.

European Space Agency: Aurora Programme

Lord Tanlaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the size of the United Kingdom's subscription to the European Space Agency will be at a level sufficient to enable the United Kingdom to maintain leadership within the Aurora programme, and will keep pace with gross domestic product.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The scale of the UK's contribution to the Aurora programme will depend on the outcome of the discussions on the definition of the programme and consideration of funding priorities following the spending review 2004 settlement.

European Space Agency: Aurora Programme

Lord Tanlaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the likely amount of the United Kingdom's subscriptions to the European Space Agency Aurora programme.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: It is too early to say what the level of UK contribution to the Aurora programme is likely to be. The content of, and level of resources for, the full programme are still being defined. The scale of the UK's contribution to the programme will depend on the outcome of these discussions and consideration of funding priorities following the spending review 2004 settlement.

Prison: Segregation

Lord Chadlington: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How often segregation has been used in prison for both teenage boys and girls, for each month since January 2004.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Data on the number of times segregation has been used for under 18 year-olds in prison service accommodation, for each month since January 2004, is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Month January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 
			 Total 171 164 152 174 174 
			  4 4  4 4

Prison Population

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prisoners have served 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years respectively in (a) prisons; and (b) secure hospitals.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Figures for prisons are based on a population snapshot of 31 May 2004. The information for England and Wales does not include prisoners who were recalled after release on licence, but may include persons who have spent some time out of prison for other reasons. Figures for Scotland do not take into account the effect of multiple warrants being served consecutively, nor do they include prisoners who were recalled after release on licence.
	Figures for secure hospitals are based on the population on 31 May 2004. There are no secure hospitals in Northern Ireland.
	
		Prison population by length of time served since date of sentence
		
			  England and Wales Scotland Northern Ireland 
			 20 years less than 
			 25 years 212 13 2 
			 25 years less than 
			 30 years 97 12 - 
			 30 years less than 
			 35 years 38 4 - 
			 35 years less than 
			 40 years 18 1 - 
			 40 years or longer 7 - - 
		
	
	
		Population of secure hospitals by length of time served since date of sentence
		
			
			  England and Wales Scotland 
			 20 years less than 25 years 130 2 
			 25 years less than 30 years 78 6 
			 30 years less than 35 years 50 4 
			 35 years less than 40 years 23 5 
			 40 years or longer 10 -

National Firearms Register

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they expect the contract awarded on 24 October 2003 to Anite public sector for the provision of a National Firearms Register to be completed on time; whether, as indicated in the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26 January (WA 8–9), the project is still expected to be operational by 31 August 2004; if not, what are the reasons for such a delay; and what is the cost; and when the project will be operational; and
	Which division in the Home Office is responsible for the supervision of the provision of a National Firearms Register as required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; and whether the six-year delay in providing this register since the requirement was enacted is satisfactory; and
	Which police forces in the United Kingdom have converted their records of licensing of firearms to a form compatible with the National Firearms Register, required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; and which police forces have not done so; and
	Why they issued the Home Office consultation paper on further controls on firearms before they implemented the requirement of Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 to set up a central register of all persons who have applied for and been granted or refused a firearm or shotgun certificate.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: As the noble Lord is aware, the requirement under Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 for a central register of certificate holders is being met through the provision of a National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS). The contract awarded to Anite was for the development of this system with an interface to a national register of certificate holders situated on the police national computer (PNC). I understand from the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), which is taking the project forward, that it is expected to be ready for service at the end of August 2004 and to be fully operational by February 2005. The final cost of the project will not be available until then.
	Unplanned but essential changes to the user requirements were required to prevent any degradation in the service currently employed by forces. In addition to the additional time needed to test these changes, it was also necessary to extend the rollout schedule to prevent any adverse impact on the "live" PNC service.
	Local force records have not yet been converted to form a compatible service with NFLMS. This will be done in accordance with a back records conversion schedule and rollout plan which has been agreed with all forces and will start in September.
	The consultation paper issued in May is the first step in our comprehensive review of firearms control and gun laws and will not affect the setting up of a central register of certificate holders.

International Arrest Warrants

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether international arrest warrants have been issued in respect of Mr Pierre Falcone and Mr Anatoly Gaidamak; what information they have about visits to the United Kingdom by each of these individuals; whether they were taken into custody on those occasions; and what steps they will take if either or both of them enter United Kingdom territory in the future.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The UK takes its international obligations very seriously and, within what the law permits, stands ready to render maximum assistance to all of its extradition partners. For good and obvious reasons, however, it is our policy and practice not to comment, ahead of any arrest, on whether an international arrest warrant for a particular individual has been received or is under consideration.
	Assuming that no arrest warrant exists in respect of a person who seeks to visit this country, then such a person, if subject to immigration control, must meet the necessary conditions for admission; and, once admitted, may travel freely. Again, it is not appropriate to comment upon visits made by individuals.

Sentencing and Imprisonment

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are reviewing the reasons for, and implications of, continued detention for periods longer than the tariff set by the trial judge.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Release in all cases is now a matter for the Parole Board to decide. All life sentence prisoners are entitled to a Parole Board review in time for them to be released on tariff expiry. Before directing release, the board has a statutory duty to satisfy itself that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined. A prisoner will be detained beyond tariff until the board is so satisfied.

Alcohol: British Nationals and Islamic Law

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice they are giving to British nationals regarding the purchase and consumption of alcohol according to current interpretation of Islamic law in (a) Afghanistan; (b) Iraq; and (c) Saudi Arabia.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The position for each country is as follows:
	Afghanistan: Alcohol is prohibited in Afghanistan. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice says: "The importation and use of narcotics, alcohol and pork products are forbidden";
	Iraq: the sale and consumption of alcohol are legal in Iraq;
	Saudi Arabia: the travel advice for Saudi Arabia makes clear that Islamic law is strictly enforced and that the penalties for possession of, or trade in, alcohol are severe.

Zimbabwe

Lord Blaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures have been taken against Zimbabwe under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in connection with corruption, the rule of law and human rights.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Measures under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement were first taken against Zimbabwe in February 2002 (Council Decision 2002/148/EC) and are still in place following extensions for further 12 month periods in 2003 (Decision 203/112/EC) and 2004 (Decision 2004/157/EC).
	These measures comprise the suspension of EU financial support to Zimbabwe from the European Development Fund (EDF), except for projects that directly support the population. Such projects should assist the social sectors, democratisation, respect for human rights or the rule of law. Humanitarian assistance is not affected by this suspension.
	The application of the article of the Cotonou Agreement that ensures the free movement of capital (Article 12 of Annex 2) is also suspended in relation to Zimbabwe. This suspension allows for the application of the restrictive measures, including a targeted asset freeze, being imposed by the EU against Zimbabwe's governing regime under a separate common position (2004/161/CFSP).

Upper Nile: Shilluk Area Ceasefire

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether breaches of the ceasefire in the Shilluk area of the Upper Nile, by parties including the Government of Sudan, have now ceased; and whether access to this area has been restored for humanitarian agencies and supplies.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Insecurity persists in the Shilluk area of the Upper Nile and problems with access continue, complicated by the fact that aid agencies need to approach from both Government of Sudan-held, and Sudan People's Liberation Movement-held territory. Our latest information suggests that 70,000–80,000 are internally displaced. The vast majority of these people seem to be being housed with host families. The Department for International Development has committed over £600,000 to support non-governmental organisations operating public health programmes and distributing non-food items in the area.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent there has been compliance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution of 11 June about the Sudan; and in particular whether the African Union Ceasefire and Disengagement Monitors are in position and equipped with adequate transport and communications.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Significant progress has been made on humanitarian access in Darfur. However, there are reports of continuing attacks by rebels and the Janjaweed militias. The Sudanese Government claim that they have taken action to improve the security situation, including by arresting over 40 Janjaweed members, and by deploying additional police from outside Darfur. However so far there is no evidence about the impact of these measures on the ground. Following the collapse of political talks in Addis Ababa on 17 July, we continue to press the parties to engage in good faith in political discussions.
	The African Union-led Ceasefire Commission (CFC) has now started to conduct investigations into breaches of the ceasefire. They are partially deployed. They have over 60 monitors and support staff in Darfur (including the UK monitor), and others are on their way. They are also working to deploy more aircraft and vehicles, and to enhance their logistics and communications systems.

UN Culture of Peace

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they will take to encourage the public to give practical support to the United Nations International Decade for a Culture of Peace and the United Nations International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World, bearing in mind that both have been endorsed by the United Kingdom.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government have supported "Peace One Day", an NGO which promotes the International Day of Peace each 21 September.
	Citizenship classes address the objective of the United Nations International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World, by teaching schoolchildren about human rights, respect for others and by encouraging them to play a full role in civil society.
	Additionally the United Kingdom promotes a culture of peace internationally, in accordance with the objectives of the international decades, through support for peacekeeping and peace support operations, which this year have been allocated some £380.3 million and through the Global Conflict Prevention Pools which this financial year have been allocated £74 million for their work.
	The Government also support the promotion of the United Nations and its values in the United Kingdom through provision of a grant to the UK branch of the United Nations Association (UNA). The UNA is active in promoting the UN's work on the culture of peace.

NHS: Blood Tests

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are sufficient facilities and resources within the United Kingdom to carry out blood tests for all National Health Service patients.

Lord Warner: National Health Service pathology services are essential to the delivery of the high-quality treatments and care which patients receive in the NHS. There are sufficient pathology services to carry out blood tests for all NHS patients in England and Northern Ireland. Matters relating to Scotland and Wales are for the devolved administrations.

Obesity Among Children

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current year-on-year rise in obesity among children under 11 projected by the 2005–08 Public Service Agreement for the Department of Health.

Lord Warner: Prevalence of obesity among those aged two to 10 in England increased from 9.6 per cent in 1995 to 15.5 per cent in 2002, an increase of around 0.8 percentage points per year.
	The increase in prevalence of obesity among children aged two to 10 between 1995 and 2002 in England, is shown in the table.
	
		percentages
		
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999–2000 2001 2002 
			 Males 9.3 10.6 11.3 11.8 14.2 13.5 15.2 
			 Females 10.0 10.5 10.4 11.4 12.5 12.2 15.7 
			 Persons 9.6 10.6 10.8 11.6 13.3 12.8 15.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Obesity defined by the National Body Mass Index percentile classification (from the 1990 reference population from TJ Cole et al). Children above the 95th percentile of the 1990 reference curve are defined as obese.
	2. The 1999 and 2000 datasets were combined due to small sample sizes in each of these years.
	Source:
	NatCen/UCL. Health Survey for England 2002.

Anticoagulant Rodenticides

Lord Williams of Elvel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What work is being undertaken by government-sponsored science laboratories to monitor the increasing resistance of rats to anticoagulant rodenticides; how that work, if any, is funded; and what bearing the resistance has on the possibility of an outbreak of plague.

Lord Whitty: Defra has funded several projects on this issue.
	The Central Science Laboratory completed the last formal assessment of the anticoagulant resistance status of rats in 1998 under Project VC0309, geographical distribution and incidence of anticoagulant resistance in rats. A summary of the results can be found in the scientific paper: Kerins, G.M.; Dennis, N.; Atterby, H.; Gill, J.E. & MacNicoll, A.D. (2001) Distribution of resistance to anticoagulant rodenticides in the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus Berk.) in England 1995–98. In: Advances in Vertebrate Pest Management II (Eds. H.-J. Pelz, D.P. Cowan & C.J. Feare) pages 149–159, Filander Verlag, Furth.
	Subsequently a limited amount of ad hoc screening in the Yorkshire/Humberside area has been undertaken by the Central Science Laboratory during projects aimed at developing techniques that reduce reliance on anticoagulant rodenticides and thereby reduce the selection pressure favouring resistance (Project VC0321, Control of rats without the use of pesticides). The final report can be found on the Defra website. A further study (VC0330) on the development of novel techniques for improving the effectiveness, humaneness and safety of managing rat populations, is also currently underway.
	Ad hoc screening of rural rat populations was also undertaken during projects PV1015 and PV1016 by CSL on behalf of PSD. Final reports of these projects, which looked at the efficacy of rodenticides and the development of guidelines on best practice for rodenticide use, can both be found on the Defra website.
	With regard to plague, the Central Science Laboratory reviewed the risk of an outbreak in the UK in a report considered by the UK Zoonoses Group (UKZG) in 2002. The former Public Health Laboratory Service's Advisory committee on Zoonoses (ACZOO) was asked by the UKZG to assess the report. The ACZOO identified a number of issues, some of which had already been considered by a working group on rodent control chaired by Defra. A protocol on rodent management control was also agreed in 2001 with local authorities, water companies and the Local Government Association.
	Reference to the UKZG's consideration of the plague report is contained in the summary of the second UKZG meeting, available on the Defra website at: http://www2.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/zoonoses/ukzg/minutes.htm. Copies of the full minute of that meeting can also be obtained on request to the UKZG Secretariat. The e-mail address is mailto:n.zoonoses@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

Rivers and Waterways: Recreational Activities

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What level of funding is required to bring leisure facilities on the River Thames up to the standard required to meet health and safety regulations.

Lord Whitty: The Environment Agency, the navigation authority for the non-tidal Thames, estimates that £37.5 million is required to be spent on its navigation assets on the river to meet health and safety needs in the next six years.
	The department's spending review (SR04) settlement has now been announced. Thames navigation health and safety needs will be considered as part of the agency's 2005–2008 corporate planning process currently underway to determine priorities for funding within the Defra SR04 settlement.
	No figures are available for the tidal Thames.

Waterways

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the United Kingdom's waterways are currently classified as being in a "poor" condition; how much money is required to bring them up to modern standards; and what steps they are taking in this regard.

Lord Whitty: The Environment Agency uses the term "poor" to describe navigation assets on its waterways which present health and safety risks. It estimates that 43 per cent of the assets on the non-tidal Thames, 32 per cent of the assets on its Anglian waterways and 47 per cent of the assets on the waterways in its Southern Region fall into this category. The agency estimates that it will need to spend about £54 million over the next six years to address these risks though bringing them up to a modern standard would cost considerably more.
	The agency funding priorities will be considered as part of the 2005–2008 corporate planning process currently underway.
	British Waterways eliminated its safety-related waterway maintenance backlog last April.
	Information about the waterways managed by the country's other navigation authorities is not available.

CAP: Sugar Regime

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to proposals by the European Commission for reform of the common agricultural policy as regards sugar; and what impact they consider these proposals will have on developing countries.

Lord Whitty: The Commission's latest communication on its preferred option for reform of the CAP sugar regime was presented to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 19 July. The proposal calls for significant cuts in EU price support with a further review of the regime in 2008. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State gave a general welcome to the proposals as a step in the right direction, while urging a swifter end to quotas and emphasising the need to address urgently the impacts on those developing countries which currently enjoy preferential access to the EU market.